Lydd Fightback Not Enough

First half goals from Jordan Wright and Nathan Hardwick proved enough to beat Lydd Town in this latest pre-season game at the Belmont. In very warm and humid conditions, Whitstable created some good chances in the first hour and might have added to their score, although Dan Eason saved well from Ryan Philpott. After a number of substitutions, Lydd finished quite strongly and eventually grabbed a consolation goal when Tom Draper scored.

Southern Counties East League Division One Lydd Town were the visitors to the Belmont in the fourth home pre-season friendly for Whitstable, who will play their first away game next when they make the trip to Lordswood. Player unavailability left Whitstable with a squad of fourteen for the evening.

The returning Charlie Smith made a good run before his well struck 25 yard shot was saved by James Atkins, then he headed a good left wing cross just wide of the goal. Wright, who looked a threat for the home side throughout, created a couple of early chances, but Lydd almost took the lead on 15 minutes when Philpott got on the end of a good through ball and Eason had to be alert to block his shot. Whitstable opened the scoring after 20 minutes, when a nice pass by skipper James Morrish released Wright and he finished well past Atkins. Smith tried another shot from outside the box that went just over. As half time approached, Hardwick finished off another Whitstable move by nodding the ball home to send his team in 2-0 ahead.

After the break, a Smith cross was headed wide by Hardwick, before Morrish collected the first yellow card of this pre-season after committing a few early second half fouls. Hardwick broke through again, but was unable to beat Atkins. The usual series of substitutions began and Lydd had two attempts at beating Eason from distance, but failed to hit the target. There were few chances as the warm evening seemed to be affecting everyone, but as the game entered the final few minutes Reece Mortimer had one shot easily saved and then had a great chance to score when the ball was headed down for him in the box, but he shot over the bar. Morrish picked up a Lydd clearance in midfield and tried to send the ball back into the net, but his shot was too high. Just after Eason had been replaced in the home goal, Lydd scored, when a ball out of the Whitstable defence was collected by Philpott, who ran down the right and crossed for Draper and although the substitute goalkeeper got a hand to his shot, the ball ended in the net. Just before the final whistle, Josh Burchell made an interception and found Rhys Brain, but his shot was well saved by Atkins and the game ended 2-1.

Tom Draper scores for LyddJames Atkins saves from Rhys Brain

Whitstable now have two away games, at Lordswood on Saturday and then Folkestone Invicta on Tuesday evening.

RT @ksnfootball This afternoon @KENTSPORTSNEWS will be out braving the cold to cover a number of games. Today's featured games are:
Gillingham v Walsall, Welling United v Eastbourne Borough
Cray Wanderers v VCD Athletic, Whitstable Town v Faversham, Chatham Town v Bearsted pic.twitter.com/M7yFlCS7Cd